Loose-leaf binder



Feb, 6, 1923. 1,444,642

A. RUBIN 0 M ADOLPH Qua/N W ATTORNEXF Patented a...

.iTATES ADQLPH RUBIN, 015 ST. LOUES, EEISSOUEI, ASSIGNOR TO SIEBER PRODUCTS (10.,

03F ST. LOULS, IEISSOUEI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Application filed June 28,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, AnoLrrr RUBIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to loose leaf binders of the type which are provided with tapes or similar flexible members for retaining the leaves in position.

In the binders of the type referred to which are now in general use, each tape or leaf retaining member of the binder has one of its ends permanently connected to the winding shaft of the binder and its opposite end permanently connected to a leaf clamping member on one of the covers of the binder. Consequently, it is necessary to provide the leaves that are used in the binder with open-ended slots of substantially T shape in outline, so as to permit the leaves to be inserted or removed without disconnecting the tapes from the winding shaft or from the leaf clamping member, by slipping the tapes into the T shaped slots in the leaves whose open ends terminate in the rear edges of the leaves. This characteristic or feature of the tape binders now in general use restricts their use to special loose leaves and also prevents the owner of such a binder from using the binder to hold pamphlets or small booklets, due to the fact that the ordinary pamphlet or small booklet is not provided in its bound edge with T shaped slots such as are necessary to enable the pamphlet to be arranged in engagement with the tapes of the binder.

The main object of my invention'is to provide a practicable loose leaf binder which is so constructed that it can be used successfully for holding any kind of leaves, booklets or pamphlets.

Another object is to provide a loose leaf binder of the type that comprises tapes or similar flexible leaf retaining members that can be manufactured at a lower cost than the tape binders now in general use.

To this end 1 have devised a loose leaf binder in which the tapes or flexible leaf retaining members are so constructed that they can be easily disconnected from the binder and inserted through holes in the leaves,

1920. Serial No. 392,250.

preferably secured to one of the covers of the binder. In the form of my invention herein shown the means just referred to consist of small clips ormetal pieces on the free ends of the tapes adapted to be inserted through slots in one of the leaf clamping members of the binder and so constructed and arranged that they will be drawn" into snug engagement with said leaf clamping member when the tapes are tightened and held in such a position that they cannot possibly work loose or become accidentally detached from said member so long as the tapes are maintainedin a taut condition.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of a loose leaf binder constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the binder open and the tapes or leaf retaining members slackened. f Figure 2 is a top plan view of the free end portion of one of the tapes.

Figure 3 is a perspective .view of a portion of one of the tapes and the leaf clamping member to which it is adapted" to be connected; and

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the tape shown in Figure 4. v

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of my invention, A designates the winding shaft of my improved loose leaf binder, which shaft may be of any preferred form or construction, B designates the tapes or flexible members of the binder that retain the leaves C in position, and D designates a leaf clamping member secured to oneof the covers E of the binder and preferably consisting of a strip of metal or other suitable material that is rigid, or substantially so. The tapes B are permanently connected at one end to the winding shaft A and lead from said shaft through holes 1 in the leaves C, and thence to the leaf clamping member D. Instead of permanently connecting the tapes B to the leaf clamping member D, as has heretofore been the universal custom, I provide each of the tapes B with means for enabling it to be connected quickly and securely to the member D. In the form of my invention herein shown each tape or flexible leai' retaining member B of the binder is provided at one end with a clip or metal part F that is adapted to be inserted through a slot 2 in the leaf clamping member D and then arranged in an angular position with -relation to the tape, so that it will form a cross piece or head on the end ot the tape that laps over the leaf clamping member D or extends substantially'parallel to said member, and thus serves as a means tor securing the free end of the tape to the member D. The particular shape of the clips F and the manner of connecting said clips to the tapes B are immaterial, so far as my broad idea is concerned, but I prefer to form each clip F from a piece of metal that is doubled over so as to form two parallel portions that embrace the end of the tape, as shown in Figure 3. One of said parallel portions is longer than the other and the end of the long portion is bent or deflected slightly at 3 towards the plane of the short portion, so as to clamp the tape securely and also form a kink or permanent bend in the tape which tends to normally hold the clip F in a position at substantially right angles to the tape on which it is mounted, as shown in Figure 3. This is desirable, in that the clip F naturally assumes a position parallel to the member D after it has been inserted through the slot 2 in said member, and accordingly, has no tendency to pull out of the slot 2 when the tape is ightenedf If desired, the

short leg or portion of the clip F can be provided with teeth 4, as shown in Figure a, that materially assist in holding the clip on the tape. 'l Vhen it is desired to disconnect the tapes from the member D the tapes are first slackened, and then drawn through the slots 2 in the member D sufiiciently to permit the clips F to be turned into such a position that the bent portion 3 on each clip can be inserted in its cooperating slot 2 in the member D. A slight pull on the tape in the reverse direction (to the left, looking at Figure 1) will pull the clip on the tape through the slot in the member D and insects thus cause the free end of the tape to be released. lln addition to forming an eflicient means tor securing the free ends of the tapes B, the clips F facilitate threading the tapes through the leaves C of the binder.

Uwing to the fact that the tapes B are so constructed and arranged that they can be easily disconnected from the leaf clamping member D. of the binder, it is possible to use the binder for holding pamphlets, booklets, or any kind oi leaves in which slots 1 can be formed to receive the tapes B. The tapes can be easily connected to or disconnected from the part D of the binder to which they are fastened, and when the tapes are taut it is impossible for the clips F to move into such a position that they will pull. out of the slots 2 in the member D. in addition to the desirable features above mentioned my improved binder is less expensive to manufacture than the tape binders heretofore in general use, owing to the fact that the operation of riveting or permanently connecting one end of each tape to the leaf clamping memberis omitted.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let'- ters Patent, is:

l. A loose leaf binder provided with a tape, and a clip on one end of said tape provided with parallel portions that embrace the tape, one of said portions being longer than the other and bent or deflected towards the plane of the short portion.

2. A loose leaf binder, comprising tapes, a winding mechanism for said tapes, a leaf-clamping member provided with slots through which the free ends of said tapes pass, and retaining devices on the ends of said tapes that are arranged in engagement with said leaf-clamping member in approximateiy parallel relation to same and at substantially rig t angles to the tapes when the tapes are held taut, each of said retaining devices consisting of a metal clip having parallel portions that embrace the end of the tape and a deflected extension onone of said portions.

' ADOLPH RUBIN. 

